{side by side} Pinterest curations

Have you ever been scrolling through your Pinterest feed and started to notice that there are a lot of different types of imagery that flows into one another? I had someone mention that part of my feed showed image after image connecting through the colors, details, or even composition, creating an almost ombré affect. I'd like to take full credit of that, but most of the time when that happens it's unintentional and just beautiful moments in time, organically coming together before my eyes.

I usually only do one 'side by side' at a time [sampling here, here and here], but these were all speaking to me and I just couldn't choose...

photos: 1 - Nanette Lepore [no source], 2 - Irving Penn, 3, 4 [no source], 5 - The Sartorialist, 6, 7, 8

Don't forget to pin along with me!

{style} it's all about the Choos

I wasn't always into fashion. In fact, I was considered a bonafide tomboy until about sophomore year until I decided to put on some makeup, get a job in retail + stopped wearing the same outfits week after week. In reality, this time period was all about the return of bell bottom flared jeans, those tattoo choker necklaces + butterfly clips [all from Wet Seal], so you can't really blame me can you?

While this experimental phase usually had me browsing the sale racks for some unique pieces so I didn't look like everyone I passed in the hallway [I had a lot of patience for this then and wish I still had it at times], the one thing I found myself allowing myself to spend money on were quality shoes. Again, the shoes I wore then were 100% questionable + added at least 10 lbs below my ankles, but they always held up.

Since then I have learned the hard way, and been reinforced by some fashionable friends [both male and female] that you get what you pay for. You know those snakeskin sandals I wear in pretty much every post? I got them for about $200 on sale at Barney's Co-op about 2 years ago and I wear them to death. And you know why? Besides the fact that they are gorgeous, they are the most comfortable shoes I own because they were made really, really well. I can walk to the subway, work all day, and go out at night in reasonable comfort.

What's my point, you ask? My new job has now placed me about 500 feet away from Saks Fifth Avenue [DANGER] which I went to a few weeks ago, finding myself in their Designer Sale looking back at a pair of Jimmy Choo pumps that I was lusting over months back [there is actually a Nicholas Kirkwood pair, too, but I digress]. While the original $700 price tag was too much for me in February, I could reasonably justify spending 1/4 of that. I usually consider pieces that are snakeskin and leopard my 'neutrals', so the silver and black details didn't deter me to add these as a similar staple. Oh, how great these will look with some cuffed boyfriend jeans and this same top...

H&M boyfriend shirt

Zara lace skirt [old, similar style]

Jimmy Choo Typhoon pumps [alternate color here, similar style here and here]

Heirloom choker

H&M makeup bag as clutch

Rayban Full Color Aviators

{beauty} deborah lippmann | New York Marquee

Not going to restate the obvious about deborah lippmann polish [you can go for that here, here and here], but I will rave about her new New York Marquee collection that just launched. She did it again. She is calling this fresh metallic finish "luxe chrome", which I couldn't have named better myself - there is something about the way that light catches these finishes on the nail that is pretty hard to top and does feel truly luxe. And the colors! It's hard for someone with such pale skin to pull off a silver, gold or rose nail, but these compliment the skin instead of the color reflecting on it [you know, when you put on a color and your skin seems to turn that shade slightly?].

While I'm not totally ready to upgrade for Fall just yet, when I do I will be starting with that insanely good pewter color [Take The "A" Train] and promise to share the results!

"From Bowery to Broadway, each nail lacquer reflects the ever-dazzling sights, sounds, and spirit of the city. Inspired by 1940's luxury and vintage fabrics, the collection of six colors employs an innovative, new luxe chrome finish." 

Take The "A" Train [pewter]

Autumn in New York [gold] 

Lullaby Of Broadway [blush]

12th Street Rag [magenta]

Harlem Nocturne [indigo]

I'll Take Manhattan [teal]

photos: Robin West

{beauty} Diptyque Figuier

I have always lusted after Diptyque, but usually from a far distance as the thought of spending more than $10 on a candle would pain me. That was before my obsession with all things fig started.

I came across a lovely fig candle in a Nolita shop that I couldn't get my mind off of, but couldn't find when I went back. When I found myself in the Diptyque store a few days later and smelled their fig version, I instantly fell in love. Such a lovely scent and not overwhelming, which is key for me because anything with too much fragrance makes me slightly nauseous [it happens when you had an evil relative growing up that bathed in Chanel No. 5].  

The problem I have now is trying another scent... I just don't think I can come to trying something new. Even though I have brought home a few pretty stellar sample fragrances that are as close to perfect as they come, there is just so much about this scent that makes my apartment feel like home.

Which scent is your favorite?

photo: Robin West

Diptyque Fig Candle here